WWE All Star Search #11 - September 23rd 1985
Hello Turnbucklers once again for edition #11! It feels since forever since I've seen a really good match on these blogs so here's hoping we see one soon! This edition there's no Hogan but looking at the card it still looks stacked...in one case quite literally. We have some debut's on this edition as always including one bigg'n! We also say some goodbyes on this edition to some wrestlers we've met along the way so far. Before we start because we are 3 months ahead of the last edition, let me fill you in on a few changes. Firstly, Greg Valentine lost the Intercontinental Title to Tito Santana in a cage match in July. Secondly, the Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff did eventually lose the titles to Barry Windham and Mike Rotundo...who then lost the belts to Brutus Beefcake and Greg Valentine. Hulk Hogan is still your WWE Champion but will he keep it for long...probably not. Anyway...let's do this!
The Card:
Scott McGhee vs Les Thornton
Adrian Adonis vs Rick McGraw
Randy Savage vs Paul Roma
Andre the Giant vs King Kong Bundy
Bob Orton vs SD Jones
The British Bulldogs vs The Hart Foundation
The Missing Link vs Lanny Poffo
Ricky Steamboat vs Don Muraco
Corporal Kirchner vs Moondog Spot
The Junkyard Dog vs Terry Funk
The Show:
Our commentators are THANKFULLY Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse Ventura. No more good guy/good guy announcing for us, these two can bounce off of each other.
Scott McGhee vs Les Thornton
OK, on paper not the best way to start but these two are both making their blog debuts so maybe just maybe they'll surprise. Scott McGhee was on the Starrcade 1985 card and I think got pretty bloodied. Les Thornton is a hometown lad on my part as he's a fellow Mancunian! Match itself is actually a weird one. It isn't bad by any means but it is somewhat boring to say the least. There are rest holds from start to finish in this one but the chain wrestling and strikes between the rest holds were superb. Both men have a superb uppercut and looked like they were holding nothing back in this one. McGhee eventually gets the win with an anti-climactic roll up. Match Rating: *
Adrian Adonis vs Rick McGraw
Rick McGraw gets the jobber entrance for this one before Adrian Adonis comes out with Bobby Heenan to big heat. Adonis is still in his leather, New Yorker style and is strangely carrying a brief case with him tonight. Adonis may be able to impress more than earlier in the blog when he was teaming with Dick Murdoch. Rick McGraw is solid but unspectacular. The briefcase turns out to be the $25,000 bounty on Paul Orndorff. Match is slow as Adonis works over the arm of McGraw while Monsoon calls him fat. Crowd has died early in this one and Adonis sends McGraw to the outside. On the plus side, McGraw lands on then sells the arm that Adonis was working over and Adonis keeps targeting it and working it over...great psychology! McGraw is eventually sent back to the outside where Heenan teases nailing him with the briefcase and actually does it...to no reaction. Suplex back in by Adonis and he goes up top. 80's wrestling 101 says this won't end well...and they've read the rulebook too as it fails. McGraw gets some offense in including a sloppy looking suplex but it's not long until Adonis counters, nails the DDT and gets the 3 count. Although slow, the psychology was superb in this one with the arm being targeted. It was forgotten about somewhat in the final goings which is a shame but for the most part it was all good. Adonis looked good in this one which I'm sure was the aim. Match Rating: *3/4
Into the back with Gorilla Monsoon and RANDY SAVAGE! We're just an Ultimate Warrior and Ted DiBiase away from the 80's all star deck. He says that Paul Roma is actually Hulk Hogan in his head tonight. He talks what can only be described as noise and rips off his tye-dye T-Shirt. Short promo but this bloke is unlike anyone else on that roster promo-wise so will it get him far?
Randy Savage vs Paul Roma
Paul Roma gets the jobber entrance in this one as we see Randy Savage and the stunning Elizabeth come to the ring. Unfortunately their overshadowed by Otto Wanz...who has a huge gut and gets to wave at the fans. Macho Man is wearing a lovely blue robe with white tassles which is all good. He stalls like a motherf*cker while also finding time to give a bollocking to Liz. They do start but only gets in the way of Macho Man's stalling. Once Savage gains control everything he does is crisp and cool. Roma does get some offense in including a scoop slam and a cool sunset flip from the top rope. Macho Man regains control by sending him outside and the bell randomly rings but Monsoon plays it off. Savage hits an Ax Handle from the top rope onto Roma on the floor which is a great spot in 1985 WWE. Back in the ring, a nice suplex by Savage followed by his signature Macho Man Elbow Drop...and another...and that gets the 3. Short but sweet and he mouths off on the mic to celebrate. Macho Man looked awesome from pre-match to post-match and I look forward to seeing more of him. Paul Roma looked good too in-ring and was allowed more offense than I expected. Match Rating: *1/2
Andre the Giant vs King Kong Bundy
The Colossal Jostle is what this one is being hyped up as. A couple of weeks before this show, Bundy and Big John Studd had injured Andre so he's looking for revenge. King Kong Bundy and Jimmy Hart are in the ring and have good heat on them which is good. Andre the Giant comes out with Captain Lou Albano to a huge Hogan sized pop. It feels like I havn't seen Bundy in a while and Andre has been inconsistent with his appearances. They lock up quickly and Andre chokes him in corner and should've been DQ'd already but f*ck it, who needs rule consistency. More choking until Bundy nails some weak punches but they don't last for long. This is painful viewing but the crowd love it, firmly behind Andre. To be fair, both men sell each others crap strikes but still...I hope this ends soon. Andre botches a WRISTLOCK and locks on an Armbar instead and ends up still managing to recline mid-hold. After an absolute age, Bundy fights out but eats a headbutt to send him outside. He lands on a table but it doesn't break...just wrap your head around that, a table in wrestling maintaining the weight of King Kong Bundy. Back in the ring Bundy takes control with more strikes and chokes but it seems the crowd are losing interest too, not quite gaining momentum on an Andre chant. More back and forth until Andre nails a big boot, goes for the cover but Big John Studd runs in for the DQ win for Andre. It all kicks off afterwards as Bundy and Studd try to attack Andre but Andre grabs a chair and the heels bail. That was far too long of a match but it kept Bundy looking like a good threat to Hogan. Andre at this point has no right to be anything other than a novelty appearance and not an in-ring performer. The fact Savage was on previously to this match just proves how important basic mobility is to good in-ring entertainment. Match Rating: DUD
Bob Orton vs SD Jones
Straight into the next match and this is a filler match to be realistic. Orton still sells like a bandit for Jones even though he's nothing but a jobber at this point. Orton nails a dropkick of all things but Jones works over the arm. I say works over, he literally just holds it. When he does actually attack Orton's arm, it gets sold and it all looks good. Orton stalls like a bandit but ends up back in wristlocks and armbars. Orton takes control with a straight up punch to the mush and works over SD's neck and back. Neither sell their respective weak point which just makes this match boring until Orton wakes me up with a crisp atomic drop. Orton hits a flying headscissors which was impressive but Jones takes control with headbutts and a suplex for 2. More and forth until Orton hits a second rope reverse splash for the 3 count. Match Rating: 1/2*
The British Bulldogs vs The Hart Foundation
Now we're talking! These two teams had a great match a couple of editions previously but back then they were new to the WWE landscape. Now we're 6 months down the line it'll be interesting to see how they've grown and how they'll gel. Bret and Dynamite start but Bret stalls and makes a big deal about hair pulling. They eventually lock up and the action is fast and furious straight away ending in a Dynamite slingshot and the heels regrouping on the outside. Back in they trade wristlocks until Bret is sent back outside and the heels regroup once again. Anvil comes in and nails a hard scoop slam. Davey Boy in and he gets a scoop slam of his own on Anvil. Davey Boy hits a dropkick and the heels regroup once again but more briefly this time. Bret tags back in and nails some punches but gets caught in a cool victory roll spot for a 1 count. Bret takes control and tags out to Neidhart who continues the offensive and then back in. More quick tags as they continue to work over Davey Boy including Anvil locking in a bearhug. Dynamite gets tagged in and cleans house of the heels. A Bret cheap shot derails Dynamite as the Hart Foundation start laying into him now. Anvil sends him to the outside where Bret scoop slams him on the concrete. The Harts use heely tactics and Bret takes over on Dynamite including his signature second rope elbow for 2. Anvil back in and he lays in some strikes to the back and a front facelock. Dynamite tries to get to Davey and the crowd are heating up. Unfortunately Bret breaks it all but gets chased by Davey around the ring. All the while, Dynamite is being choked out by Anvil during the distraction. Dynamite pushes to make the tag once again and makes it but oh no (!), ref didn't see it so won't allow it! Bret works over Dynamite now but gets caught in a backslide for 1! Bret traps Dynamite in the ropes, or so he thought as he charges, misses and crotches himself. Davey gets the hot tag and cleans house of the heels. Bret whipped chest first into the corner for 2 and then eats a picture perfect press slam for 2. Bret hits a perfect backbreaker and Anvil comes off the top with a ax handle to add to the backpain. The heels work over Davey and actually nail the Hart Attack! Ref is distracted though while Bret is pinning Davey so Dynamite comes off the top with a flying headbutt and Davey gets the 3 count! Harts attack after the match and leave the Bulldogs nursing bruises but soaking up cheers. Great match and the should be blueprint for most tag team matches. Bulldogs were solid but Davey looked slightly better in this one mainly due to being allowed more offense in. Bret looked good showing off some crisp offense that will come to be his signature moveset and Anvil was entertaining yet limited as always. Match Rating: ***1/2
Into the back with Jesse Ventura, Don Muraco and Mr Fuji who kiss each others arse and tell Ricky Steamboat to watch out later!
Still in the back with Gorilla Monsoon, Jimmy Hart and Terry Funk. They're looking for revenge on Junkyard Dog for trying to drown Jimmy Hart. Funk says Tito and Hogan are more important than JYD.
The Missing Link vs Lanny Poffo
Ah, The Missing Link, we hardly had time to get to know each other. This is his last appearance on the blog and also Lanny Poffo's first. The brother of Randy Savage and I want to know if talent runs in the family. Bobby Heenan introduces himself as the Manager of the Year to some subtle heat. Poffo throws a selection of scrolls into the crowd. Poffo uses his quickness to dodge Link but Link is moving so slow that he may as well not be there. A lot of stalling in the early goings but slowly and surely they get into it. Link should be coming off as strong in this one but he's so clunky that it just doesn't help. He grabs a chair but doesn't need nor use it and continues to show off his hard head gimmick that all foreigners or freaks seem to have. Poffo doesn't get any offense in on the grand scheme of things and Link gets the win after interference from Heenan and a headbutt from Link off the second rope. Thank lord that was Link's last appearance, two dreadful appearances was all I needed. Match Rating: DUD
Ricky Steamboat vs Don Muraco
On paper this one could go either way. Muraco had a push earlier in the year and Steamboat has been consistently impressing for a while. We start off quickly with Muraco going for the Pearl Harbour attempt but it doesn't get him far as Steamboat unloads with chops and strikes. He chokes Muraco with his belt right in front of the ref and nails a chop from the top rope sending Muraco down and then to the outside. Steamboat looks like he's wearing pajamas in this one. Back in the ring and Steamboat stays in control until he's tripped by Mr Fuji on the outside. Once Muraco is in control he's runs through the heel handbook including an extra long nerve hold. Steamboat escapes briefly but nails slingshotted out of the corner and finds himself back in the nervehold. Muraco goes for a tombstone piledriver but Steamboat counters. He then counters another slingshot attempt. He goes on the offensive and goes for a splash but eats nothing but knees. Muraco gets a 2 count before Mr Fuji tries to get involved. He ends up meeting heads with Muraco allowing Steamboat to go up top. Mr Fuji cuts him off though with salt to the eyes and Steamboat wins by DQ. Match was OK and the finish hurt neither guy I guess. I would've liked to have seen Steamboat get the clean win but at least he looked like a top babyface in this one. Match Rating: *3/4
Corporal Kirchner vs Moondog Spot
Now THIS is the match I was looking forward to the most when I looked at this card. This is Kirchner's debut on the blog and he's what I can only see as a replacement to Sgt Slaughter. His reactions are not nearly as big and he seems like a diet version. On top of that, how tough are corporals in comparison to other ranked army officials. The match is as you would expect but what really stands out to me are Kirchners little tantrums to hype him up. Kirchner eventually gets the win with a samoan drop. I'm not a fan of patriotic American characters repeatedly shoved down my throat since its the WORLD Wrestling Federation...but hey, why complain, not like it's going to change in the next 30 years. Match Rating: 1/4*
The Junkyard Dog vs Terry Funk
Terry Funk is out first with Jimmy Hart to very little reaction. Junkyard Dog comes out to Grab Them Cakes and Funk wastes no time in starting things off, meeting JYD on the outside with punches. Funk gets backdropped on the concrete and struggles to get back in the ring thanks to JYD. JYD heads outside to slam Funk on the concrete and that's two hard blows to the back in the early goings. Funk Flair flops over the corner to the outside and still can't get any offense in. JYD poses to the crowd and he gets a small reaction. JYD suplexes Funk into the ring but gets low blowed and Funk takes control. Elbows and headbutts by Funk but JYD no sells and nails some headbutts of his own. Funk tries to cheat but the ref catches him. As Funk argues with the ref, JYD rolls him up for the 3 count! Afterwards Jimmy Hart distracts JYD long enough for Funk to attack. Funk brands JYD to prove his point. Match was quick and not too bad. It was all about the ending as Funk looked like the maniac he is but also made JYD look great just by selling like a bandit to his basic moveset. Match Rating: *1/4
Wrestler Scores:
- Scott McGhee +4 (4)
- Les Thornton +4 (4)
- Adrian Adonis +5 (16)
- Rick McGraw +2 (10)
- Randy Savage +6 (6)
- Paul Roma +4 (4)
- Andre the Giant +3 (16)
- King Kong Bundy +3 (12)
- Bob Orton +4 (18)
- SD Jones +3 (10)
- Bret Hart +7 (18)
- Jim Neidhart +6 (20)
- Davey Boy Smith +7 (13)
- Dynamite Kid +6 (12)
- The Missing Link +2 (4)
- Lanny Poffo +2 (2)
- Don Muraco +4 (13)
- Ricky Steamboat +5 (23)
- Corporal Kirchner +3 (3)
- Moondog Spot +2 (5)
- Junkyard Dog +4 (15)
- Terry Funk +5 (5)
There we have it for this edition. The show started off OK but hit it's peak (by quite a distance) with the tag team match. No big changes to the overall scores even though though top scorers didn't appear on the show. We have a couple of decent scorers this edition and Ricky Steamboat would've been higher if the crowd weren't as dead as they were. Anyway...onto the next show which is Saturday Nights Main Event 2 and then 2 more 1985 shows left to go! See you next time!
@thewrestlindork
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